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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 5A Are we almost there? “Are we almost there?” my 3-year-old daughter intoned from the back seat for about the 19th time in a minute and a half. (She’s really got the inflection down — and the tone - Are we ALmost there?) “Getting closer, getting closer,” I muttered, peering anxiously through the rain as the windshield wipers whipped back and forth and we careened around mountain curve after mountain curve. “I don’t think we’re going to make it,” Zach said. It seemed like we’d been in the car long enough to have gotten to Dillsboro, N.C., and back already, but we still hadn’t seen a single sign for the mountain village. “Are we ALmost there?” “Umm hmm.” (Maybe?) Anyone who knows me will tell you that I tend to run late, but on this special occasion, one we’d gotten tickets for three months in advance, we had gotten up early and left in plenty of time (we thought) to reach the train station and await the arrival of Thomas the Tank Engine. Excited about the train ride to come, Addie hadn’t slept much the night before, was already tired by 8:30 a.m. and was past the point of being entertained by small car toy, books, snacks and a Thomas movie. (“Are we ALmost there?”) By 10 a.m. we were all exhaust ed, and just 30 minutes prior to our departure time, we wheeled (not quite on two tires, but close) into Dillsboro in the pouring rain. A young man in a poncho and carrying an umbrella told us that parking was about a mile away. Yikes. We zoomed down the road, found the park ing lot, ran to catch the “Percy” shuttle and sat back in the midst of other families, parents anxiously checking their watches. After a thwarted run for the play train tables and then a quick “potty” break, we made it to our gate as Thomas pulled into the station. I could barely breathe, but made the requisite “look, look!” noises. We settled into our seats and Zach and I sighed with relief — and dis belief (did we really make it?) — as the train pulled out of the station. The rain accumulated on the roof and began pouring into the open train car. Our wet hair stirred in a nearly cold breeze. Well. The play train tables were a big hit. Really big. We drove a long way to play with toy trains, I noted, but it made for a good time. When the time came to pack up, climb aboard the Percy bus and head back to our car, the meltdown arrived, full force. As we made our wailing way across the parking lot, I noticed a couple unloading their baby and stroller from the car parked next to ours. The father completely stopped what he was doing and stepped out to stare at our noisy progress. Curious? Scornful? Judgmental? I glanced at the infant asleep in the stroller (tiny, sleeping baby gets big kick out of rainy train ride) and thought to myself, “Oh, yeah, the wrath of tired and hungry 3 will one day publicly descend upon you, too, buddy, just wait a few years....” “Are we almost there?” After lunch and a brief time of car seat confinement distress, Addie drifted to sleep and Zach and I enjoyed listening to the slapping of the windshield wipers. But, as often happens, the trip was a success in retrospect. Addie is wearing her new blue Thomas shirt as often as I will let her, and she is excited, telling about her day out with Thomas. We spent quite a bit of time last night going through a Thomas coloring book. I’d do it again. Maybe after an extra long night of sleep and on a fall morning, with the sunshine glinting off the tracks as we wait, an hour early, for the train to arrive. Jana Adams Mitcham is features editor of The Jackson Herald, a sister publication of The Banks County News. E-mail comments about this column to jana@main- streetnews.com. jana mitcham That’s just fishy Over the years, our family has enjoyed having a variety of pets. We have raised dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and several fish, just to name a few. At times, I have felt like we owned a small zoo. Animals aren’t cheap, mind you. Our vet bill alone last month for two small dogs was well over $600. By the time you buy a pen, shav ings, water bottles, a wheel and food, even the cost of owning a hamster can quickly add up. The children have always been the ones to talk me into purchasing the pets. Of course, they promise to feed and take full responsibility for the animals. After about two weeks, I some how end up feeding, changing cages and taking my time to haul the critters back and forth to the vet. The children just enjoy playing with them. My husband always rolls his eyes and is never surprised when we drive up with a pet carrier in hand. He ends up adoring what ever pet we bring home. At times it may even be a rescue situ ation. Just last week we fos tered an ador able Bichon Frise puppy for a few days due to the fact that the owner passed away. This week we are working with a kitten that was abandoned by its mother. We have always let our children name the pets. Over the years they have chosen names such as George and Henry for guinea pigs. Belle, Molly, Lilly, Trixie and Samson for the dogs, and Puddles, Sophie and Socks for the cats. For reasons unknown, our pets tend to live a long time. The pet store owner insists that it’s because we give them an abundance of love and attention. Our hamsters both lived seven years, and just last month, our sweet little fish, Maddie, died at age six. Of course, losing the pet meant purchasing another. After a fish funeral and what I'm pretty sure were many fake tears, we went to the pet shop and chose a replace ment for Maddie. Once we got our newest pet situated in its bowl, I asked my daughter what she had chosen to name it. She replied, “Just Fishy.” I must say, we have already gotten attached to the little fellow. The strange thing is, when she sings to him, he swims to the top of the bowl and tries to jump out. We have had many pets over the years, but my daughter agrees, this one is just Fishy! Sherri Stephens is a contributing columnist for The Banks County News. E-mail comments about this column to charmbug5@hotmail, com. Free seminar on skin cancer scheduled Aug. 7 The Cancer Center at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) is presenting a free educational seminar on skin cancer: “Protect the Skin You’re In.” The seminar will be held on Thursday, Aug. 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the NGMC Community Room at the new Spout Springs Branch of the Hall County Library System, located at 6488 Spout Springs Road in Flowery Branch. Edward A. Abell, MD, a plastic surgeon with Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery Associates, and Kirk D. Saddler, MD, a dermato logist with Gwinnett Dermatology, will be the featured speakers. Each physician will present informa tion about prevention, identifica tion and treatment of skin cancer and answer questions from the audience. Registration and a free sandwich supper start at 6 p.m., and the pre sentations begin at 6:30 p.m. The seminar is free, but registration is required. For more information, or to register, call 770-538-7641. Classifed Ad deadline: Noon Mondays Dalton speaks to CVB members BY SHARON HOGAN Members of the Banks County Convention and Visitors Bureau got a chance to hear from the new ly-elected board of commission chairman Milton Dalton at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 30, at the Hampton Inn at Banks Crossing. CVB vice-chairman Deyon Corey asked Dalton to speak in the absence of Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman, who had been scheduled to speak. Dalton told the CVB members that he would have an open door policy when he takes office and he is looking forward to working with them any way he can. In other business: •Corey presented the monthly financial statement. Sherry Ward told the members that the monthly $29,243 total for income included a $14,500 state grant that the CVB received. CVB chairman Mark Valentine worked on this, Ward said. •State Representative Jeanette Jamieson told the group that the Georgia House Tourism and Economic Development group will be in Toccoa on Wednesday, October 15. Jamieson said, “We will be hosting the group and I would like a showing from the entire area I represent.” She encouraged members of the CVB to attend. Jamieson said lunch will be served in the Paul Anderson Park. “The group will be there for about three hours,” Jamieson said. Jamieson said the members could contact her if they were interested in attending. •Gordon Eanes, Banks County CVB marketing committee, reported that the yearly audit, for the year ended Dec. 31, 2007, has been completed and copies are available for anyone to review. Johnson said, “And of course it was perfect.” The audit shows a total of $354,564 in net assets as of Dec. 31,2007. •Eanes also reported that the new vinyl for one of the Interstate 85 hotel billboards has been approved and work is underway to get it up. •Corey introduced new mem ber Brenda Miller, Wells Fargo Mortgage, to the meeting. •Brenda White, fundraising com mittee, reported that the next car show is slated for Saturday, Oct. 4, at Denny’s. White said she is looking for a new venue for the car show for next year. Anyone inter ested in this may contact White for more information. •White also reported that the annual Chocolate Fair is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 10. A new sug ar-free chocolate category will be added this year, at the suggestion of Corey. Corey said, “I have had people tell me they couldn’t come because they are diabetic.” •Ray Wilkings, new events com mittee, announced that the Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway will be held a week earlier in 2009. The event is scheduled for April 16-19, 2009. •Ward said she is still active on Banks County’s Entrepreneur Friendly Initiative. The next step is for the Banks County group to meet with the state during the next few weeks to discuss future projects now that the county has received its designation. •Corey announced a new Christian Book Store & Cafe slat ed to open in August next to World Gym at Banks Crossing. Holiday pageant planned Aug. 16 in Homer The 2008 Holiday Festival Pageant and Baby Contest will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Banks County High School audito rium in Homer. Flu committee continues to plan BY SHARON HOGAN Members of the Banks County Pandemic Flu Committee met on Tuesday, July 29, to continue with plans for a full scale exercise to be held in October. The committee is working on plans to deal with any type of pandemic that might hit Banks County. The group involves county personnel and other community members. All winners will receive a crown, trophy, savings bond and banner, as well as ride in the Banks County Holiday Festival parade. The pageant and baby contest are both open to Banks County residents only. For more information on the event, call 706-677-3510 or 706-335-4189. Charity tournament to benefit Galloway A charity softball tournament will be held at Banks County Recreation Fields, Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10. There will be a concession stand open for those attending the games. All proceeds will benefit Henry Galloway of Banks County, who has been fight ing cancer since 2004. The cost is $150 per team. For more information on the benefit tournament, contact Robert Chapman at 706-870-4146 or Chuck Bowden at 770-530-4431. Those wishing to par ticipate must contact Chapman or Bowden by Thursday. Your #1 source for local news The Banks County News The Banks County News Get the local school church, sports and other community news delivered to your home each week! Just clip the coupon below to begin saving today over the newstand price! Name Address City State Zip Subscription rates for The Banks County News are as follows: $19.75 per year for Banks and adjoining counties; $17.75 per year for senior citizens in Banks and adjoining counties; $38.85 per year for delivery elsewhere in Georgia; $36.85 per year for delivery elsewhere in Georgia with senior citizen discount; $44.50 per year for delivery out of Georgia; $42.50 per year for delivery out of Georgia with senior citizen discount; $42.20 per year for the military with APO address. Enclosed is my check for $ Expiration Phone or □ MC or □ VISA # MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. 33 Lee Street. P. O. Box 908 Jefferson. GA 30549 706-367-5233 Fax: 706-367-8056 Website: www.inainstreetnews.com TO L B E RT jUiij BRADFORD ATTORNEYS AT LAW STOP Foreclosures STOP Repossessions STOP Garnishments STOP Tax Levies STOP Creditor Harassment Chapter 13 Repayment (Pay only Filing Fees to Start) Chapter 7 Get a Fresh Start Free Initial Consultation Athens • 706-549-8545 • 320 E. Clayton Street, Suite 514 • Athens, GA 30601 Jefferson • 706-367-5290 • 62 Washington Street • Jefferson, Georgia 30549 We care about kids. We want the best for them. We raise ours here, too. The NEW Waste Management There’s a good reason why we care about the kids in this community; we raise ours here, too. As an integral part of this community, the NEW Waste Management partners with local schools by providing videos, CDs and other teaching tools that help students of all ages better understand our environment and the steps we can all take to safeguard it for generations to come. We show them how state-of-the-art engineering techniques help us safely maintain and restore landfills into usable green spaces. How we use advanced optical sorting technologies to efficiently recycle plastics and glass. And how we transform common waste products into uncommonly clean energy that powers homes and businesses. We believe our educational efforts are critical to helping us preserve a healthy environment for the future. It’s another way we’re making a difference. One community at a time. From everyday collection to environmental protection, look to the NEW Waste Management. 706-677-2650 www.wm.com